Display system and related method

ABSTRACT

A display system may include a first display apparatus and a second display apparatus. The first display apparatus may include a first image-display surface. The second display apparatus may include a second image-display surface. At least one of the first image-display surface and the second image-display surface may perform at least one of extending and bending in response to at least one of a first condition and a second condition. The first condition may be related to that the second image-display surface moves relative to the first image-display surface. The second condition may be related to that a distance between the first image-display surface and the second image-display surface becomes equal to a predetermined length.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2015-0170080, filed on Dec. 1, 2015, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office; the disclosure of the Korean Patent Application isincorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

One or more embodiments relate to a display apparatus system includingtwo or more adjacent display apparatuses.

2. Description of the Related Art

Display apparatuses have been applied to various areas. As an example,display apparatuses may be provided at a vehicle dashboard. The displayapparatuses may be fixed at the dashboard and may have limited functionsand/or limited arrangements.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment, a display apparatus system may include afirst display apparatus; and a second display apparatus including asecond edge adjacent to a first edge of the first display apparatus by aspace with a certain distance, in which a display range of at least oneof the first and second display apparatuses may be extended and thedisplay range may be arranged in the space with the certain distancebetween the first and second display apparatuses.

According to an embodiment, a display apparatus system may include afirst display apparatus including a first edge and a second displayapparatus including a second edge, in which the second display apparatusmay be arranged adjacent to the first display apparatus and may move ina first direction with respect to the first display apparatus so that aspace between the first and second edges may be changed from a firstdistance to a second distance longer than the first distance, and whenthe distance between the first and second edges is equal to the firstdistance, a display range of at least one of the first and seconddisplay apparatuses may be extended and the display range may bearranged in the space with the first distance between the first andsecond display apparatuses.

An embodiment may be related to a display system. The display system mayinclude a first display apparatus and a second display apparatus. Thefirst display apparatus may include a first image-display surface. Thesecond display apparatus may include a second image-display surface. Atleast one of the first image-display surface and the secondimage-display surface may perform at least one of extending and bendingin response to at least one of a first condition and a second condition.The first condition may be related to that the second image-displaysurface moves relative to the first image-display surface. The secondcondition may be related to that a distance between the firstimage-display surface and the second image-display surface becomes equalto a predetermined length. The features may be appreciated withreference to, for example, one or more of FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C,FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B,FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B, FIG. 10A, and FIG. 10B and related description.

The first condition may be movement of the second image-display surfaceaway from the first image-display surface. The features may beappreciated with reference to, for example, one or more of FIG. 2A, FIG.2B, FIG. 2C, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG.10A, and FIG. 10B and related description.

The first condition may be movement of the second image-display surfacetoward the first image-display surface. The features may be appreciatedwith reference to, for example, one or more of FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, FIG.9A, and FIG. 9B and related description.

The second condition may be that the distance between the firstimage-display surface and the second image-display surface increases tobecome equal to the predetermined length. The features may beappreciated with reference to, for example, one or more of FIG. 2A, FIG.2B, FIG. 2C, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG.10A, and FIG. 10B and related description.

The second condition may be that the distance between the firstimage-display surface and the second image-display surface decreases tobecome equal to the predetermined length. The first condition may bemovement of the second image-display surface toward the firstimage-display surface. The features may be appreciated with referenceto, for example, one or more of FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, FIG. 9A, and FIG. 9Band related description.

The second image-display surface may extend toward the firstimage-display surface responsive to the at least one of the firstcondition and the second condition. The features may be appreciated withreference to, for example, one or more of FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C,FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 10A, and FIG.10B and related description.

The first image-display surface may extend toward the secondimage-display surface responsive to the at least one of the firstcondition and the second condition. The features may be appreciated withreference to, for example, one or more of FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C,FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 10A, and FIG.10B and related description.

The second image-display surface may extend in at least two directionstoward the first image-display surface responsive to the at least one ofthe first condition and the second condition. The features may beappreciated with reference to, for example, one or more of FIG. 3A, FIG.3B, FIG. 7A, and FIG. 7B and related description.

The first image-display surface may extend in two or more directionstoward the second image-display surface responsive to the at least oneof the first condition and the second condition. The features may beappreciated with reference to, for example, one or more of FIG. 3A, FIG.3B, FIG. 7A, and FIG. 7B and related description.

A first portion of the second image-display surface may bend withrespect to a second portion of the second image-display surface towardthe first image-display surface responsive to the at least one of thefirst condition and the second condition. The features may beappreciated with reference to, for example, one or more of FIG. 4A andFIG. 4B and related description.

A width of the first portion of the second image-display surface may beless than or equal to the predetermined length. The features may beappreciated with reference to, for example, one or more of FIG. 4A andFIG. 4B and related description.

A width of the first portion of the second image-display surface may besubstantially equal to the predetermined length. The features may beappreciated with reference to, for example, one or more of FIG. 4A andFIG. 4B and related description.

The first portion of the second image-display surface may not becoplanar with either of the first image-display surface and the secondportion of the second image-display surface before the bending. Thefirst portion of the second image-display surface may be coplanar withat least one of the first image-display surface and the second portionof the second image-display surface as a result of the bending. Thefeatures may be appreciated with reference to, for example, one or moreof FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B and related description.

The first image-display surface and the second image-display surface mayoperate in a first collaborative display mode prior to the at least oneof the extending and bending, e.g., when the distance between the firstimage-display surface and the second image-display surface is unequal tothe predetermined length. The first image-display surface and the secondimage-display surface may operate in a second collaborative display moderesponsive the at least one of the extending and bending. The firstimage-display surface may display a first portion of a first object inthe first collaborative display mode. The second image-display surfacemay display a second portion of the first object in the firstcollaborative display mode. The first image-display surface may displaya first portion of a second object in the second collaborative displaymode. The second image-display surface may display a second portion ofthe second object in the second collaborative display mode. The displaysystem may have a first total image-display area in the firstcollaborative display mode. The display system may have a second totalimage-display area in the second collaborative display mode. The secondtotal image-display area may be larger than the first totalimage-display area. The features may be appreciated with reference to,for example, one or more of FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B,FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 10A, and FIG. 10B and relateddescription. For example, in a collaborative mode, the firstimage-display surface may display an upper portion of a horse, and thesecond image-display surface may display a lower portion of the horse.

The first image-display surface and the second image-display surface mayoperate in an individual display mode prior to the at least one of theextending and bending, e.g., when the distance between the firstimage-display surface and the second image-display surface is unequal tothe predetermined length. The first image-display surface and the secondimage-display surface may operate in a collaborative display moderesponsive the at least one of the extending and bending. The firstimage-display surface may display a first object in the individualdisplay mode. The second image-display surface may display a secondobject in the individual display mode. The first image-display surfacemay display a first portion of a third object in the collaborativedisplay mode. The second image-display surface may display a secondportion of the third object in the collaborative display mode. Thedisplay system may have a first total image-display area in theindividual display mode. The display system may have a second totalimage-display area in the collaborative display mode. The second totalimage-display area may be larger than the first total image-displayarea. The features may be appreciated with reference to, for example,one or more of FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B and related description.

The first image-display surface and the second image-display surface mayoperate in an individual display mode when the first image-displaysurface is not coplanar with (e.g., is substantially parallel to) thesecond image-display surface. The first image-display surface and thesecond image-display surface may operate in a collaborative display modewhen the first image-display surface is substantially coplanar with thesecond image-display surface. The first image-display surface maydisplay a first object in the individual display mode. The secondimage-display surface may display a second object in the individualdisplay mode. The first image-display surface may display a firstportion of a third object in the collaborative display mode. The secondimage-display surface may display a second portion of the third objectin the collaborative display mode. The second total image-display areamay be larger than the first total image-display area. The features maybe appreciated with reference to, for example, one or more of FIG. 7Aand FIG. 7B and related description.

The display system may have a first total image-display area in theindividual display mode. The display system may have a second totalimage-display area in the collaborative display mode. The second totalimage-display area may be larger than the first total image-displayarea. The features may be appreciated with reference to, for example,one or more of FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B and related description.

The second image-display surface may extend in a first direction towardthe first image-display surface subsequent to movement of the secondimage-display surface relative to the first image-display surface in asecond direction. The second direction may be different from the firstdirection. The features may be appreciated with reference to, forexample, one or more of FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B,FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B,FIG. 10A, and FIG. 10B and related description.

The second direction may be opposite to the first direction. Thefeatures may be appreciated with reference to, for example, one or moreof FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B and related description.

The second direction may be rotational with respect to the firstdirection. The features may be appreciated with reference to, forexample, one or more of FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B and related description.

The second direction may be oriented at an angle with respect to thefirst direction. The angle may be greater than 0 degree and less than180 degrees. For example, the angle may be substantially equal to 90degrees. The features may be appreciated with reference to, for example,one or more of FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, FIG. 9A, and FIG. 9B and relateddescription.

An embodiment may be related to a method of operating a display system.The display system may include a first display apparatus and a seconddisplay apparatus. The first display apparatus may include a firstimage-display surface. The second display apparatus may include a secondimage-display surface. The method may include performing at least one ofextending and bending of at least one of the first image-display surfaceand the second image-display surface in response to at least one of afirst condition and a second condition. The first condition may berelated to that the second image-display surface moves relative to thefirst image-display surface. The second condition may be related to thata distance between the first image-display surface and the secondimage-display surface becomes equal to a predetermined length. Thefeatures may be appreciated with reference to, for example, one or moreof FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG.5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B, FIG. 10A, and FIG. 10Band related description.

Embodiments may advantageously enable sufficient possibilities offunctionalities and/or arrangements of display apparatuses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a display apparatusincluded in a display apparatus system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, and FIG. 2C are diagrams illustrating operationsand/or movements of display apparatuses of a display apparatus systemaccording to embodiments.

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are diagrams illustrating arrangements of displayapparatuses of a display apparatus system according to embodiments.

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are diagrams illustrating methods of operatingdisplay apparatuses of a display apparatus system according toembodiments.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are diagrams illustrating methods of operatingdisplay apparatuses of a display apparatus system according toembodiments.

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are diagrams illustrating a display apparatus systemaccording to embodiments.

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are diagrams illustrating operations of displayapparatuses of a display apparatus system according to embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an application of a display apparatussystem according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B are diagrams illustrating applications of a displayapparatus system according to embodiments.

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are diagrams illustrating applications of adisplay apparatus system according to embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments are illustrated with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals may refer to like elements.Embodiments may have different forms and should not be construed asbeing limited to the descriptions set forth herein. While such terms as“first,” “second,” etc., may be used to describe various components,such components must not be limited to the above terms. The above termsmay be used to distinguish one component from another. Thus, a firstelement discussed in this application may be termed a second elementwithout departing from embodiments. The description of an element as a“first” element may not require or imply the presence of a secondelement or other elements. The terms “first”, “second”, etc. may also beused herein to differentiate different categories or sets of elements.For conciseness, the terms “first”, “second”, etc. may represent“first-category (or first-set)”, “second-category (or second-set)”,etc., respectively.

An expression used in the singular may encompass the expression of theplural, unless it has a clearly different meaning in the context.

In this application, operation of a display apparatus may representoperation of an image-display surface (e.g., a surface or area on whichimages according to input signals are displayed) of the displayapparatus; operation of an image-display surface of a display apparatusmay represent operation of the display apparatus. As an example,extension, stretching, bending, or movement of a display apparatus mayrepresent extension, stretching, bending, or movement of animage-display surface of the display apparatus. As another example,extension, stretching, bending, or movement of an image-display surfaceof a display apparatus may represent extension, stretching, bending, ormovement of the display apparatus.

In this application, passive verb forms and active verb forms may beused interchangeably. For example, “be extended” and “extend” may beused interchangeably; “be bent” and “bend” may be used interchangeably;“be stretched” and “stretch” may be used interchangeably.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a display apparatus100 included in a display apparatus system according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the display apparatus 100 included in a displayapparatus system may include a display unit 10, a scan driver 20, a datadriver 30, a controller 40 and a power supply 50.

The display apparatus 100 included in a display apparatus systemaccording to an embodiment may include one or more of variousapparatuses such as a liquid crystal display apparatus, a thin filmtransistor-liquid crystal display apparatus, an organic light emittingdisplay apparatus, a three-dimensional display apparatus, and anelectrophoretic display apparatus. In embodiments, at least a portion ofthe display apparatus 100 included in the display apparatus systemaccording to an embodiment may include a flexible display apparatus.Especially, at least a portion of the display apparatus 100 included inthe display apparatus system according to an embodiment may include abendable display apparatus or a stretchable display apparatus. A case inwhich the display apparatus 100 is an organic light emitting displayapparatus will be described as an example below. In embodiments, thedisplay apparatus 100 may be a bendable display apparatus and/or astretchable display apparatus.

The display unit 10 may include a plurality of pixels PX arranged in amatrix form. Each pixel PX may be connected to a corresponding scan lineamong scan lines SL1 through SLm and to a corresponding data line amongdata lines DL1 through DLn, and a control signal and a data voltage maybe provided thereto. Each of the scan lines SL1 through SLm may transmita control signal outputted from the scan driver 20 to pixels PX on anidentical row, and each of the data lines DL1 through DLn may transmit adata voltage outputted from the data driver 30 to pixels PX on anidentical column. Each of the scan lines SL1 through SLm is illustratedas one line in FIG. 1; however, some pixels PX may include a pluralityof lines to transmit a plurality of control signals in parallel.

Pixels PX may receive a first driving voltage ELVDD and a second drivingvoltage ELVSS. The first driving voltage ELVDD and the second drivingvoltage ELVSS are driving voltages for an organic light emitting diodeof a pixel to emit light, and the first driving voltage ELVDD may have ahigher voltage level than the second driving voltage ELVSS. The pixel PXmay control the amount of electric current flowing from the firstdriving voltage ELVDD via the organic light emitting diode to the seconddriving voltage ELVSS, based on the data voltage transmitted via acorresponding data line. The data voltage may denote a signaltransmitted via a corresponding data line or its voltage level. Thepixel PX may include a light emitting element emitting light withluminance corresponding to the data voltage or may transmit the amountof light corresponding to the data voltage. The pixel PX may denote asub-pixel which is a portion of the pixel PX capable of displaying fullcolors, or may denote a set of sub-pixels, which is a reference forrepresenting resolution, or may denote the pixel PX itself outputting ortransmitting a single color (for example, white color). The pixel PX mayinclude a color filter depending on an operation method of the displayapparatus 100.

The controller 40 may receive a vertical synchronizing signal Vsync, ahorizontal synchronizing signal Hsync, a data enable signal DE, a clocksignal CLK, and a data signal RGB from the outside. The controller 40may control an operation timing of the scan driver 20 and the datadriver 30 via timing signals such as the vertical synchronizing signalVsync, the horizontal synchronizing signal Hsync, the data enable signalDE, and the clock signal CLK. Since the controller 40 may determine aframe period via counting the data enable signal DE during onehorizontal scanning period, the vertical synchronizing signal Vsync andthe horizontal synchronizing signal Hsync supplied from the outside maybe omitted. The data signal RGB may include luminance information ofpixels PX. The luminance may have gray levels of certain numbers, forexample, 1024, 256, or 64.

The controller 40 may generate control signals including a gate timingcontrol signal GDC to control the operation timing of the scan driver 20and a data timing control signal DDC to control the operation timing ofthe data driver 30.

The gate timing control signal GDC may include a gate start pulse GSP, agate shift clock GSC, a gate output enable GOE, etc. The gate startpulse GSP may be supplied to the scan driver 20 in which a first scansignal is generated. The gate shift clock GSC may be a clock signalinputted in common to the scan driver 20 and may be the clock signal CLKto shift the gate start pulse GSP. The gate output enable GOE signal maycontrol an output of the scan driver 20.

The data timing control signal DDC may include a source start pulse SSP,a source sampling clock SSC, a source output enable SOE signal, etc. Thesource start pulse SSP may be a signal to control a starting time ofdata sampling of the data driver 30. The source sampling clock SSC maybe the clock signal CLK to control a data sampling operation of the datadriver 30 based on a rising edge voltage, a falling edge voltage, or acertain flat voltage. The source output enable SOE may be a signal tocontrol an output of the data driver 30. The source start pulse SSPsupplied to the data driver 30 may be omitted depending on a datatransfer method.

The scan driver 20 may sequentially generate control signals to operatepixels PX included in the display unit 10, in response to the gatetiming control signal GDC supplied from the controller 40. The scandriver 20 may supply control signals to pixels PX included in thedisplay unit 10 via the scan lines SL1 through SLm. A plurality ofcontrol signals may be provided to one pixel PX depending on a design ofthe pixel PX. For example, first through third control signals or morecontrol signals may be provided to one pixel PX during one frameaccording to a certain sequence.

The data driver 30 may sample the data signal RGB supplied from thecontroller 40 in a digital type and latch and change the data signal RGBto data in a parallel data system, in response to the data timingcontrol signal DDC supplied from the controller 40. When the data driver30 changes the data signal RGB in the digital type to data in theparallel data system, depending on the driving method of the displayapparatus 100, the data signal RGB in the digital type may be changed toa gamma-based voltage and to a data voltage in an analog type. The datadriver 30 may supply the data voltage to pixels PX included in thedisplay unit 10 via the data lines DL1 through DLn.

FIGS. 2A through 2C are diagrams illustrating movements of displayapparatuses of a display apparatus system according to embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the display apparatus system may include a firstdisplay apparatus 100 a and a second display apparatus 100 b. Each ofthe first and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b may be thedisplay apparatus 100 described with reference to FIG. 1. Alternatively,each of the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b mayeach be the display unit 10 sharing together some composing elements ofthe display unit 100 described with reference to FIG. 1. A case in whicheach of the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b is thedisplay apparatus 100 will be described as an example below.

The first and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b may be arrangedadjacent to each other by a space R with a certain distance. In detail,the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b may be arrangedsuch that a first edge El at a bottom portion of the first displayapparatus 100 a faces a second edge E2 at a top portion of the seconddisplay apparatus 100 b; in this case, a range between the first edge E1and the second edge E2 may be the space R. In embodiments, a distancebetween the first edge E1 and the second edge E2 may be a first distanceL1. The first and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b may berespectively attached to a wall and to a surface of a drawer, which isautomatically or manually movable. The first and second displayapparatuses 100 a and 100 b may be flat display apparatuses that attachto a flat surface or curved display apparatuses that attach to a curvedsurface.

In this case, at least one image-display surface (e.g., display area ordisplay range) of at least one of the first and second displayapparatuses 100 a and 100 b may be extended and fill the space R betweenthe first and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b. In detail, inthe case of FIG. 2A, a range in which image-display surfaces (e.g.,display areas) of the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100b exist may be the display range where an image is displayed, and thespace R between the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 bmay be a range in which an image may not be displayed. When at least oneof the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b is extendedto the space R, the range which has been the space R may be changed tothe display range. In other words, at least one of the first and seconddisplay apparatuses 100 a and 100 b may be extended and the displayrange may be arranged in the space R.

Referring to FIG. 2B, only one of the first and second displayapparatuses 100 a and 100 b may be extended and the display range may bearranged in the space R. For example, the second display apparatus 100 bmay be extended in a direction of the second edge E2 toward a locationin which the first display apparatus 100 b is arranged. In this case,the second display apparatus 100 b may be extended until the second edgeE2 moves by the first distance L1 and contacts the first edge E1, or thesecond display apparatus 100 b may be extended until the second edge E2moves a distance less than the first distance L1 and thus, the distancebetween the first and second edges E1 and E2 becomes less than thatprior to an extension of the second display apparatus 100 b. In thiscase, a result that the display range is arranged in the space R alsomay occur via an arrangement of the second display apparatus 100 b inthe space R.

Alternatively, referring to FIG. 2C, both of the first and seconddisplay apparatuses 100 a and 100 b may be extended and the displayrange may be arranged in the space R. For example, the first displayapparatus 100 a may be extended in a direction of the first edge E1toward a location in which the second display apparatus 100 b isarranged, and the second display apparatus 100 b may be extended in adirection of the second edge E2 toward a location in which the firstdisplay apparatus 100 a is arranged. In this case, both of the first andsecond edges E1 and E2 may move to a range which has been the space R.The first and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b may be extendeduntil the first and second edges E1 and E2 are in contact with eachother, or until the distance between the first and second edges E1 andE2 becomes less than that prior to the extension of the first and seconddisplay apparatuses 100 a and 100 b. When at least one of the first andsecond display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b is extended, the first andsecond display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b may display one image. Inother words, a portion of an image may be displayed on the first displayapparatus 100 a and the other portion of the image may be displayed onthe second display apparatus 100 b. When there is the space R betweenthe first and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b, an improperdisplay of one image, such as a portion of one image being not displayedor being disconnected, may occur; however, when the display range of atleast one of the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b isextended, the image may be properly displayed. A method of extending atleast one of the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 bwill be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, and 5Bbelow.

In embodiments, the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 bare illustrated as rectangles of a same size in FIG. 2A; however, it isexemplary only, and the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and100 b may have different sizes and may be display apparatuses havingvarious kinds of geometrical shapes such as a polygon, a circle, and anellipse. The first and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b willbe described with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating arrangements of displayapparatuses of a display apparatus system according to embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and100 b may be arranged so that a bottom edge of the first displayapparatus 100 a and a top edge of the second display apparatus 100 bface each other. The bottom edge of the first display apparatus 100 aand the top edge of the second display apparatus 100 b may have a curveshape. In this case, the space R may be a range existing between thefirst and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b and may be therange having a geometrical shape including all curved and linear edges.At least one of the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 bmay change the shape so that the first display apparatus 100 a isextended in a direction of the bottom edge or the second displayapparatus 100 b is extended in a direction of the top edge and thus, thedisplay range is arranged in the space R.

Alternatively, referring to FIG. 3B, the first display apparatus 100 a,in a shape of surrounding the second display apparatus 100 b, may bearranged in a rectangular loop-shape on the outskirts of the seconddisplay apparatus 100 b. In this case, the space R maybe a range withthe rectangular loop-shape existing between the first and second displayapparatuses 100 a and 100 b. At least one of the first and seconddisplay apparatuses 100 a and 100 b may change the shape so that thefirst display apparatus 100 a is extended in respective direction ofinner edges or the second display apparatus 100 b is extended inrespective direction of outer edges and thus, the display range isarranged in the space R.

As described above, the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and100 b included in the display apparatus system according to the presentinventive concept may be display apparatuses having various shapes andmay be arranged in various geometrical relationships.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating methods of arranging a displayrange in a space between display apparatuses of a display apparatussystem according to embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 4A, a display apparatus system may include a firstdisplay apparatus 100 a and a second display apparatus 100 b. In thiscase, at least one of the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and100 b may be a bendable display apparatus. For example, the seconddisplay apparatus 100 b may be a bendable display apparatus. In thiscase, a second edge E2 of the second display apparatus 100 b may be aninside edge in a display range of the second display apparatus 100 b andmay be a location in which the second display apparatus 100 b may bebent. In other words, when the second display apparatus 100 b is bent,the second edge E2 is revealed as an edge, and when the second displayapparatus 100 b is changed to an un-bent shape, the second edge E2 maybe changed into the inside range of the display range of the seconddisplay apparatus 100 b.

In this case, referring to FIG. 4B, a degree of bending of the secondedge E2 of the second display apparatus 100 b may be changed. In detail,the second edge E2 may be changed to an un-bent state or aless-bent-than-before-the-change state. In this case, the display rangewhich is a bent top portion of the second edge E2 of the second displayapparatus 100 b may move from the bent state of the second displayapparatus 100 b to a range which has been a space between the firstdisplay apparatus 100 a and the second display apparatus 100 b. As aresult, the second display apparatus 100 b may be extended and an effectmay occur that the display range may be arranged in the space betweenthe first display apparatus 100 a and the second display apparatus 100b.

A case in which only the second display apparatus 100 b is a bendabledisplay apparatus is described as an example in FIGS. 4A and 4B;however, the present inventive concept is not limited thereto and bothof the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b may bebendable display apparatuses. In this case, the first edge E1 of thefirst display apparatus 100 a may be an inside edge in the display rangeand may be a location in which the first display apparatus 100 a may bebent.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating another method of arranging adisplay range in a space between display apparatuses of a displayapparatus system according to embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 5A, a display apparatus system may include a firstdisplay apparatus 100 a and a second display apparatus 100 b. In thiscase, at least one of the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and100 b may be a stretchable display apparatus. For example, the seconddisplay apparatus 100 b may be the stretchable display apparatus. Inthis case, at least a portion of the second display apparatus 100 b maybe stretched in a direction of the second edge E2. In detail, the seconddisplay apparatus 100 b may be a manufactured apparatus in which anentire range of the second display apparatus 100 b or a range inside acertain range from the second edge E2 may be stretchable via a physicalor electric signal.

In this case, referring to FIG. 5B, a degree of stretching of the seconddisplay apparatus 100 b may be changed. In other words, the seconddisplay apparatus 100 b may be stretched in a direction of the secondedge E2. The second display apparatus 100 b may be stretched until thesecond edge E2 contacts with the first edge E1 of the first displayapparatus 100 a or up to a position in which the second edge E2 is notin contact with the first edge E1. In this case, the second displayapparatus 100 b may be stretched to a range which has been the spacebetween the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b. As aresult, the second display apparatus 100 b may be extended and an effectmay occur that the display range may be arranged in the space betweenthe first display apparatus 100 a and the second display apparatus 100b.

A case in which only the second display apparatus 100 b is a stretchabledisplay apparatus in FIGS. 5A and 5B is described as an example;however, the present inventive concept is not limited thereto, and bothof the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b may bestretchable display apparatuses. In this case, at least a portion of thefirst display apparatus 100 a may be stretched in a direction of thefirst edge E1.

Alternatively, one of the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and100 b may be a bendable display apparatus and the other may be astretchable display apparatus.

As described above, a display apparatus system of the present inventiveconcept may include the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and100 b such that at least one of them include either a bendable displayapparatus or a stretchable display apparatus. In this case, the displayapparatus system may drive display apparatuses to a first state in whicha space exists between the first and second display apparatuses 100 aand 100 b, or to a second state in which the space between the first andsecond display apparatuses is filled with the display range via anextension of at least one of the first and second display apparatuses100 a and 100 b.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating a display apparatus systemaccording to embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the display apparatus system according to anembodiment may include a first and third display apparatuses 100 a and100 c arranged on a fixed wall W, and a second display apparatus 100 barranged on a movable drawer D.

The fixed wall W may denote an object which is relatively fixed withrespect to the movable drawer D. In other words, a fixed wall W maydemote a vehicle body which is relatively fixed in a moving vehicle, andthe movable drawer D may denote a drawer existing inside the vehicle.The movable drawer D may denote a storage space which is manually orautomatically movable, and may further denote various objects, which arerelatively movable with respect to a fixed portion, such as a space intowhich a disc or a CD may be inserted and a portion of a wall designed tomove.

The movable drawer D in which the second display apparatus 100 b may bearranged may be arranged at the center of the fixed wall W. In thiscase, the first display apparatus 100 a may be arranged at a top portionof the fixed wall W and the third display apparatus 100 c may bearranged at a bottom portion of the fixed wall W, based on the movabledrawer D.

In this case, referring to FIG. 6B, the movable drawer D may move in afirst direction with respect to the fixed wall W. Since the firstthrough third display apparatuses 100 a through 100 c may berespectively fixed to the fixed wall W or the movable drawer D, thesecond display apparatus 100 b may also move in the first direction withrespect to the first and third display apparatuses 100 a and 100 c. Themovable drawer D may move in the first direction with respect to thefixed wall W and become protruded from the fixed wall W, and may moveinto the inside of the fixed wall W via moving in a direction oppositeto the first direction. In this case, a distance between an edge of thebottom portion of the first display apparatus 100 a and that of the topportion of the second display apparatus 100 b may be used as a centerfor description. When the movable drawer D is inside the fixed wall W,the distance between the edge of the bottom portion of the first displayapparatus 100 a and that of the top portion of the second displayapparatus 100 b may be a first distance which may be a minimum. Inembodiments, when the movable drawer D is protruded at the maximum fromthe fixed wall W, the distance between the edge of the bottom portion ofthe first display apparatus 100 a and the edge of the top portion of thesecond display apparatus 100 b may be a second distance which may be amaximum.

In this case, the first through third display apparatuses 100 a through100 c may be a plurality of display apparatuses capable of displayingone image. In detail, when the movable drawer D is protruded from thefixed wall W (for example, when the distance between the edge of thebottom portion of the first display apparatus 100 a and that of the topportion of the second display apparatus 100 b is longer than the firstdistance), the first through third display apparatuses 100 a through 100c may display respectively different images. When the movable drawer Dis inside the fixed wall W (for example, the distance between the edgeof the bottom portion of the first display apparatus 100 a and that ofthe top portion of the second display apparatus 100 b is the seconddistance), the first through third display apparatuses 100 a through 100c may be driven to display one image. However, a space in which an imagemay not be displayed may exist between the first and second displayapparatuses 100 a and 100 b, and between the second and third displayapparatuses 100 b and 100 c. Due to this reason, one image which thefirst through third display apparatuses are to display may not beadequately displayed. To improve this effect, the display apparatussystem may be operated so that at least one of the first through thirddisplay apparatuses 100 a through 100 c may be extended to have thedisplay range arranged in the space between display apparatuses, whenthe movable drawer D is inside the fixed wall W (for example, when thedistance between the edge of the bottom portion of the first displayapparatus 100 a and that of the top portion of the second displayapparatus 100 b is the first distance). A detailed description aboutthis case will be given via FIGS. 7A and 7B.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating changes of display apparatusesaccording to states of a display apparatus system according toembodiments.

Referring to FIG. 7A, the display apparatus system according to anembodiment may include the first and third display apparatuses 100 a and100 c arranged on the fixed wall W, and the second display apparatus 100b arranged on the movable drawer D. In this case, a first space R1 and asecond space R2 may exist between the fixed wall W and the movabledrawer D. In detail, the first space R1 may exist between the topportion of the fixed wall W in which the first display apparatus 100 amay be arranged and the drawer D in which the second display apparatus100 b may be arranged, and the second space R2 may exist between thebottom portion of the fixed wall W in which the third display apparatus100 c may be arranged and the drawer D in which the second displayapparatus 100 b may be arranged. When the movable drawer D is protrudedfrom the fixed wall W as illustrated in FIG. 7A, the first through thirddisplay apparatuses 100 a through 100 c may maintain an un-extendedstate.

In this case, referring to FIG. 7B, when the movable drawer D is insidethe fixed wall W, at least a portion of the first through third displayapparatuses 100 a through 100 c may be extended and the display rangemay be arranged in the first and second spaces R1 and R2. For example,when the movable drawer D is inside the fixed wall W as illustrated inFIG. 7B, the second display apparatus 100 b may be extended both in adirection in which the first display apparatus 100 a exists and in adirection in which the third display apparatus 100 c exists, and thedisplay range may be arranged in the first and second spaces R1 and R2.In this case, the second display apparatus 100 b may be a bendabledisplay apparatus or a stretchable display apparatus.

The display apparatus system may further include a controller to controlwhether to extend at least a portion of the first through third displayapparatuses 100 a through 100 c or not. In embodiments, the displayapparatus system may further include a sensor unit to identifyrespective arrangement states of the first through third displayapparatuses 100 a through 100 c. In this case, the sensor unit mayinclude various sensors to identify respective arrangements of the firstthrough third display apparatuses 100 a through 100 c. For example, thesensor unit may include a sensor to measure a distance between one edgeof the first display apparatus 100 a and that of the second displayapparatus 100 b. Alternatively, the sensor unit may include anilluminance sensor to identify whether a certain display apparatus isprotruded or not.

As described above, the display apparatus system of the presentinventive concept may include a plurality of display apparatusesarranged on one side of the fixed wall W and one side of the movabledrawer D. When the movable drawer D is in a state of being protrudedfrom the fixed wall W or of movement, the display apparatus system mayhave the plurality of display apparatuses maintain the un-extended stateand have the movable drawer D adequately perform a role of a storagespace. In embodiments, when the movable drawer D is inside the fixedwall W, the display apparatus system may have at least a portion of theplurality of display apparatuses extended, have the display rangearranged in the spaces between the fixed wall W and the movable drawerD, and display a clear and full image.

FIGS. 8, 9A, 9B, 10A, and 10B are diagrams illustrating applications ofa display apparatus system according to embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 8, a vehicle dashboard 800 may be arranged in avehicle. An entire portion or a portion of the vehicle dashboard 800 mayinclude a display apparatus. In this case, the vehicle dashboard 800 mayinclude various display apparatuses performing various functions such asan instrument panel, a center fascia, and a navigation panel.

Referring to FIG. 9A, the vehicle dashboard 800 may include a storagespace and a center fascia. A first display apparatus 100 a may bearranged on a front surface of the storage space. In embodiments, asecond display apparatus 100 b performing a function of the centerfascia may be arranged adjacent to a top edge of the first displayapparatus 100 a in the vehicle dashboard 800. When the storage space isnot protruded as illustrated in FIG. 9A, the first and second displayapparatuses 100 a and 100 b may display one image. For example, thefirst and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b may display oneimage showing an operation state of an audio, an air conditioner, etc.of a vehicle. In this case, at least one of the first and second displayapparatuses 100 a and 100 b may be extended and arrange the displayrange in a space between the first and second display apparatuses 100 aand 100 b to display a clear and full image via the first and seconddisplay apparatuses 100 a and 100 b (for example, an image without anempty range in which an image is not displayed in a middle portion).

Referring to FIG. 9B, when the storage space is protruded, the first andsecond display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b may display respectivelydifferent images or at least one of the first and second displayapparatuses 100 a and 100 b may have an image display function disabled.In this case, both of the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and100 b may not be extended. In other words, when the storage space is notprotruded, at least one of the first and second display apparatuses 100a and 100 b may have been extended, and a display apparatus in anextended state may be changed to the un-extended state when the storagespace is protruded. Via this configuration, the vehicle dashboard 800may include a practical storage space and, at the same time, may includea display apparatus with a smooth and attractive exterior design.

In embodiments, referring to FIG. 10A, a first and second displayapparatuses 100 a and 100 b displaying information about vehicleoperation may be arranged on the vehicle dashboard 800 on a driver'sside and a third and fourth display apparatuses 100 c and 100 ddisplaying one image on the vehicle dashboard 800 on a passenger's side.Referring to FIG. 10B, a space through which an air bag may be releasedmay exist between the first and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100b. The space through which an air bag may be released may exist alsobetween the third and fourth display apparatuses 100 c and 100 d. Inthis case, when the air bag is not in use as illustrated in FIG. 10A, atleast one of the image-display surfaces (or image-display areas) of thefirst and second display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b may be extended andthe display range may be arranged in the space between the first andsecond display apparatuses 100 a and 100 b. Likewise, when the air bagis not in use, at least one of the third and fourth display apparatuses100 c and 100 d may be extended and the display range may be arranged inthe space between the third and fourth display apparatuses 100 c and 100d. Via this configuration, a space to implement necessary functions fora vehicle may be secured and, at the same time, a display apparatus witha smooth and attractive exterior design may be arranged on the vehicledashboard.

It should be understood that embodiments described herein should beconsidered in an illustrative sense and not for purposes of limitation.Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodiment shouldtypically be considered as available for other similar features oraspects in other embodiments.

While one or more embodiments have been described with reference to thefigures, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the artthat various changes in form and details may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display system comprising: a first display apparatus, which comprises a first image-display surface; a second display apparatus, which comprises a second image-display surface, wherein at least one of the first image-display surface and the second image-display surface is configured to perform at least one of extending and bending in response to at least one of a first condition and a second condition, wherein the first condition is related to that the second image-display surface moves relative to the first image-display surface, and wherein the second condition is related to that a distance between the first image-display surface and the second image-display surface becomes equal to a predetermined length.
 2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the first condition is movement of the second image-display surface away from the first image-display surface.
 3. The display system of claim 1, wherein the first condition is movement of the second image-display surface toward the first image-display surface.
 4. The display system of claim 1, wherein the second condition is that the distance between the first image-display surface and the second image-display surface increases to become equal to the predetermined length.
 5. The display system of claim 1, wherein the second condition is that the distance between the first image-display surface and the second image-display surface decreases to become equal to the predetermined length.
 6. The display system of claim 1, wherein the second image-display surface is configured to extend toward the first image-display surface responsive to the at least one of the first condition and the second condition.
 7. The display system of claim 6, wherein the first image-display surface is configured to extend toward the second image-display surface responsive to the at least one of the first condition and the second condition.
 8. The display system of claim 1, wherein the second image-display surface is configured to extend in at least two directions toward the first image-display surface responsive to the at least one of the first condition and the second condition.
 9. The display system of claim 8, wherein the first image-display surface is configured to extend in two or more directions toward the second image-display surface responsive to the at least one of the first condition and the second condition.
 10. The display system of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the second image-display surface is configured to bend with respect to a second portion of the second image-display surface toward the first image-display surface responsive to the at least one of the first condition and the second condition.
 11. The display system of claim 10, wherein a width of the first portion of the second image-display surface is less than or equal to the predetermined length.
 12. The display system of claim 10, wherein a width of the first portion of the second image-display surface is substantially equal to the predetermined length.
 13. The display system of claim 10, wherein the first portion of the second image-display surface is not coplanar with either of the first image-display surface and the second portion of the second image-display surface before the bending, and wherein the first portion of the second image-display surface is coplanar with at least one of the first image-display surface and the second portion of the second image-display surface after the bending.
 14. The display system of claim 1, wherein the first image-display surface and the second image-display surface are configured to operate in a first collaborative display mode prior to the at least one of the extending and bending, wherein the first image-display surface and the second image-display surface are configured to operate in a second collaborative display mode responsive the at least one of the extending and bending, wherein the first image-display surface is configured to display a first portion of a first object in the first collaborative display mode, wherein the second image-display surface is configured to display a second portion of the first object in the first collaborative display mode, wherein the first image-display surface is configured to display a first portion of a second object in the second collaborative display mode, wherein the second image-display surface is configured to display a second portion of the second object in the second collaborative display mode, wherein the display system has a first total image-display area in the first collaborative display mode, wherein the display system has a second total image-display area in the second collaborative display mode, and wherein the second total image-display area is larger than the first total image-display area.
 15. The display system of claim 1, wherein the first image-display surface and the second image-display surface are configured to operate in an individual display mode prior to the at least one of the extending and bending, wherein the first image-display surface and the second image-display surface are configured to operate in a collaborative display mode responsive the at least one of the extending and bending, wherein the first image-display surface is configured to display a first object in the individual display mode, wherein the second image-display surface is configured to display a second object in the individual display mode, wherein the first image-display surface is configured to display a first portion of a third object in the collaborative display mode, wherein the second image-display surface is configured to display a second portion of the third object in the collaborative display mode, wherein the display system has a first total image-display area in the individual display mode, wherein the display system has a second total image-display area in the collaborative display mode, and wherein the second total image-display area is larger than the first total image-display area.
 16. The display system of claim 1, wherein the first image-display surface and the second image-display surface are configured to operate in an individual display mode when the first image-display surface is not coplanar with the second image-display surface, wherein the first image-display surface and the second image-display surface are configured to operate in a collaborative display mode when the first image-display surface is coplanar with the second image-display surface, wherein the first image-display surface is configured to display a first object in the individual display mode, wherein the second image-display surface is configured to display a second object in the individual display mode, wherein the first image-display surface is configured to display a first portion of a third object in the collaborative display mode, and wherein the second image-display surface is configured to display a second portion of the third object in the collaborative display mode.
 17. The display system of claim 16, wherein the display system has a first total image-display area in the individual display mode, wherein the display system has a second total image-display area in the collaborative display mode, and wherein the second total image-display area is larger than the first total image-display area.
 18. The display system of claim 1, wherein the second image-display surface is configured to extend in a first direction toward the first image-display surface subsequent to movement of the second image-display surface relative to the first image-display surface in a second direction, and wherein the second direction is different from the first direction.
 19. The display system of claim 18, wherein the second direction is at an angle with respect to the first direction, and wherein the angle is greater than 0 degree and less than 180 degrees.
 20. A method of operating a display system, the display system comprising a first display apparatus and a second display apparatus, the first display apparatus comprising a first image-display surface, the second display apparatus comprising a second image-display surface, the method comprising: performing at least one of extending and bending of at least one of the first image-display surface and the second image-display surface in response to at least one of a first condition and a second condition, p1 wherein the first condition is related to that the second image-display surface moves relative to the first image-display surface, and wherein the second condition is related to that a distance between the first image-display surface and the second image-display surface becomes equal to a predetermined length. 